phowell

Welcome to LBT! When I decided to have the lap band done I was very discouraged at all of the things that I had to do before they would let me have it. I felt like "I finally decided to do this, and now they won't let me!" I did finish the nutrition class and we also had a class to do called Behavior Change--this made a huge difference with the way I "use" my band. You really have to slow down when you eat, take way smaller bites and chew, chew, chew. One of the hardest things for me to accomplish with this class was to NOT drink while I was eating. Now, I know why they made us practice all of these things. They also talked about WHY we eat like we do. It was very informative and had I not gone to those classes, I am sure that I would have had a lot of trouble and not been able to use my band as well as I have! If you have any questions, just ask! Trish:smile:

I am definitely no expert, but I would call your doctor immediately. That just doesn't sound right. It didn't happen to me, but I would call right away.

Men....always thinking in "car talk!" LOL I am starting to like this thread almost as much as the before and after pics. When someone says they did something different or were able to fit somewhere--anything like that--it almost becomes a challenge to see if I can do it (or at least get to where I can)! It is such a positive place to be, and I love it! I am so thankful for everyone that comes on here and is willing to share their stories! Trish

Ok, so here is another one. My mom wanted to go shopping at JC Penney and I went with her (she shops in the petites). I saw this super cute dress and she said "Well, try it on!" I said yeah, right, the biggest size is a 16! Well, I took her advice and you know what?!!? I got it on AND zipped. It was still a little tight, but it was ON--a PETITE size 16!! I couldn't believe it. Congrats to everyone. This is so great!

I was starving a couple of days after surgery so I ate a few bites of cottage cheese, but I ate it really slow and chewed it like crazy! I was so hungry a week after surgery that when I went for my check up I asked if I could eat real food and she said sure so that night (I remember this vividly) I went and found the Schwan man and got the sliced beef and mashed potato dinner and made that and green beans for me and my family. I probably didn't even eat 1/2 a cup of it and like 3 green beans and I was full, but boy did it feel great. It took a while to eat and I took super small bites and chewed it a ton, but I never knew "real" food would be so delicious! When I was on soft food I put a little shredded cheese in my tomato soup to give it a little substance. I also took fat free refried beans and heated them, then mixed in sour cream, enchilada sauce and a little shredded cheese. It does wonders for a mexican food craving and a few bites into it you are stuffed. I don't know if you can eat it, but I ate it my first week. Hope it helps! Our program used to follow the diet for the gastric bypass, but they found too many people were too hungry so they changed it. Good luck and you can always ask me questions if you need to!!!

Wow!!! Clothes getting bigger is definitely a good thing--but sometimes it makes our wallets get smaller...:huh2:! My new NSV's this week are -I went to a stadium and fit into the chairs that this time last year dug into my legs!!! -My...ahem....underwear are getting to big and becoming a pain in the you-know-where......lol:scared2: -I fit into a dress that I haven't even been able to get on in 4 years! Yeah us!!! Congrats everyone! This site is what keeps me motivated!

Congrats to everyone!! YEAH! I am getting so close I can smell it! It sounds like an awfully exciting place to be! A little more than 6 pounds and I will be seeing it from the other side with all the rest of you!! WOO HOO!!:thumbup::biggrin::biggrin::lol:

I only had to stay on clear liquids while I was in the hospital. I went on full liquids as soon as I went home which included milk and shakes and yogurt. I also got to start adding in scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and cream of wheat, but you need to talk to your doctor to make sure. Every program and every doctor is different as you will find out from reading on here. It is always best to check in with your doctor!Congratulations on your band and good luck! You are on your way to a new you:thumbup:

Here is how it happens for me: I don't chew well enough, take too big of a bite, or eat too fast (sometimes it is just a food that I can't tolerate) Then I get a feeling almost like a really bad, huge burp Then comes the terrible pain between my shoulder blades and in my chest along with the overproduction of saliva. It is then that I get up and go to the bathroom. I just lean over and the food sort of falls out and then I instantly feel better. It isn't really like throwing up (for me anyway). There is no retching or heaving. Hope this helps! Trish

Chris, I noticed that is me, too. I was losing more when I was eating more so I am trying really hard to not let myself get hungry and I eat protein all day long!!! I am seeing if that helps a little. Good luck! I watched Biggest Loser tonight and that always gives me a little more motivation!!! Can you imagine losing over 100 pounds in 4 months? CRAZY!

I have found that some of the foods that were easy to eat at the beginning I can barely get down now. Even if I eat ice cream, I can't eat too much because I still get full. I still like candy and cookies and ice cream and treat myself to them, but not nearly as often as I used to. I don't reward everything I do with food. I always try to eat something with protein first if I am craving something and usually it helps, but sometimes I just gotta!!! LOL. And just so you know--we were required to attend a group suppport meeting before our surgery, but they actually accepted this as mine! I think that is pretty cool and says a lot about this site!

I know that right after surgery my tummy was sore--especially at my port site. I did have a lot of gas, too! Once I was able to get onto my stomach or side (I used a lot of pillows) it was ok and it actually helped some of the gas pain. I sleep on my stomach all the time, now. I was banded in Jan. I don't remember how long it took before I could, but I would think that it will get better for you, too!:cursing:

Oh...wait...maybe I should have said that you have gotten a lot smaller.....:blush:Either way you are looking great!

Woo Hoo!!! Look at you! That tank top has gotten a lot bigger! Great job!:w00t::eek::scared2:

I have my good days and bad days, too. Let's just say that Reese's PB eggs go right through! I try hard not to be around that kind of stuff, but I am learning and even small things make me happy. I almost bought a bag of M&M's (The huge one) and put it back. I decided that if I was going to buy them I would get the small bag. I did and I didn't even eat half and threw the rest away before I could even think about it. I NEVER would have done that pre-band. I probably would have gotten 2 of the big bags plus some chips! It might not have been the best decision, but it was better! That is how I try to look at those things. I take it day by day-minute by minute and then take pride in the fact that I can throw half a bag of M&M's away w/o worrying about starving kids in China. It does help that I have some restriction in my band since my last fill. It just helps me make up my mind.

Just hang in there!! I know what you mean about fooling yourself "fries are mushy food" I did that with chocolate. I love Dove Dark chocolate bars and decided that if I sucked on them, it couldn't be too bad. Well, I still have a bite every once in a while and I still eat bad things every once in a while but I make sure that I eat protein first! It helps a lot. I have had 3 fills and believe me, it puts the brakes on eating a lot of bad stuff. I used to love cupcakes and I won't dare touch one now. I also love pizza and just tonight tried to eat some. About halfway through the slice I was done. No more for me. It will come. Have patience. This place is an awesome sounding board. Get on here when you think you want something bad. It helps. Trust me! Trish

I wanted to add one more to my list. I bought a ring at a jewelry party my sister was having in November and thought that I could wear it on my middle finger or thumb if it got too big. Well, the other day I was carrying groceries in and set them down. I heard a *tink* and looked down and there was my ring hooked to the handle on the bag. I didn't even notice that it had come off and it was on my thumb!!! I don't wear it anymore :sneaky:

I first wanted to say congrats to everyone! If it wasn't for everyone on here, I would be lost and am always glad to hear from everyone!!! My NSV is that I went shopping in WalMart the a week and a half ago and bought a skirt off the "normal" sized rack thinking that if it didn't fit yet it would soon. I didn't even try it on. I went home and thought I would get a feel for how long it would be before I could wear it and it zipped right up! Then I went to wear it to church today and it was almost too big!! That amazes me! WOW! A size 18 getting too big. I never thought I would see that day... Keep posting--what great motivation this is!:crying:

I just had a fill last Thursday and she tried to put 1cc in, but when I tried to drink the water it just sat there so she took out .4cc. This was my third fill and now I have a total of 5.6 and let me tell you--I definitely feel it. I eat just a small amount and am so full I can hardly stand it. I am supposed to eat less than a cup of food (that is what she told me) and I can't even eat that. I have been told that once you get good restriction to be very careful to not have "soft food syndrome" or you won't lose weight. That is where you eat all soft and pureed foods (soup) because it goes down easier and doesn't hurt. That means the food doesn't stay in your band as long so you are hungry faster. I try really hard to not eat much of those foods except after fills and I will tell you that there are days where I am in pain from not chewing and have brought stuff back up because it hurt so bad I couldn't even talk. It has only happened a few times, but that is enough for me so now I listen very well. I am hoping that now I have the restriction I need to keep losing weight! Sorry about the novel:frown:

Lady--was your surgery really in 07? Just wondering bc I have a terrible time remembering to put 08 on things and we are 3 months into this year...LOL. I just had a fill today and am hoping it goes well. She put in 1 cc and then had me drink, but it was kind of stuck in my throat, so she took out .4 and now I have a total of 5.6cc in my band! How exciting to finally have some restriction--now to follow the rules!:shades_smile:

I was able to eat bread, sandwiches, bagels--anything until my last fill. I used to love these bagel breakfast sandwiches that they sold at work. I was eating one VERY slowly after my last fill and NO WAY!! The pain and torture that I felt was definitely not worth it so I haven't had one since. I can eat just a bagel, but I think the combination was just too much. I can still eat sandwiches, especially on toasted bread, with no problem. I can't do sticky things like cake and one bite of a doughnut was enough to stop me dead in my tracks (like I should even be trying, right?). So that is my bread story--and I'm sticking to it:tongue:

I know how you feel Ang....I finally made an appointment yesterday for a fill. I was going back and forth with it because if I eat too fast or don't chew my food I DEFINITELY know it, but I am still getting really hungry in between meals. I am hoping one more fill will put me at my sweet spot and I will be on the losing side of things again. I just keep gaining and losing the same 2 pounds. I can tell a difference in my clothes, though, they are certainly fitting better! I also signed up to do Tae Kwon Do with my kids--hope I don't look like Chris Farley doing it!!! LOL

I haven't been on here for a while so I hope everyone is doing well! When I had my gas pains I just tried to move around a lot. It sure helps! Even when I didn't feel like it I made myself walk up and down my hallway! I can hardly wait until all this cold weather is gone so that I can get outside and walk! How is the weather everywhere else in the state? Trish

I am in, too!! I have got to lose 50 pounds by the end of June (well, I don't have to, but that is when I will see my ex-hubby and would love to show it off!!) He has no idea that I had this done so I want to shock him as much as I can...600 minutes here I come!!! Woo Hoo!!

Hey Mark! Awesome weight loss:thumbup:! I am only about 20 pounds down and am trying to decide if I want another fill or not. I had my surgery Jan 2nd in Grand Forks. I say only, but never in my life was it so easy to lose 20 pounds! Glad to see someone else from ND on here! Trish